STARTUP LEAGUEMedia Produced by ASCII STARTUP

League Member Search

JinShari 2026

Tokyo, Bunkyo Ward

Support!

“JinShari” is an innovation project aimed at the sustainable development and global dissemination of traditional bonsai culture. While bonsai possesses high artistic value, the personalization of knowledge and the difficulty of care have historically been barriers to enjoying the art form. We are leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI, to develop next-generation care services that support future tree shape predictions and daily maintenance. By preserving the essence of tradition while fostering co-creation with technology, we are creating an environment where anyone can easily enjoy bonsai. We are taking on the challenge of creating new experiential value that carries Japan’s proud cultural assets to the world and into the future.

JinShari's Main Innovation
INNOVATION

A Global Bonsai Growth Management System Using Multimodal AI

A Global Bonsai Growth Management System Using Multimodal AI

In this research, we will build a high-precision “Bonsai Growth Management System” using multimodal AI for overseas bonsai enthusiasts. We will develop a multimodal RAG/AgenticRAG system that integrates a proprietary database based on data licensed from specialized journals with dynamic web references, enabling recommendations for optimal watering and fertilization tailored to tree species and climates worldwide. Furthermore, we will validate pest and disease diagnosis based on image input using a visual-language model (VLM) and ensure the reliability of responses through a RAGAS evaluation pipeline. By fusing Japan’s premier primary data with cutting-edge AI technology, we will demonstrate a world-class support infrastructure that transforms the tacit knowledge of traditional culture into explicit knowledge.

Spread the Word

Share on X Share on Facebook

JinShari Representative Introduction
REPRESENTATIVE

Representative Tomoki Katsumura Tomoki Katsumura
Born in 1990 in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. He spent two years as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers working on rural development in the Philippines, and upon returning to Japan, worked in production management at a major manufacturing company. He is currently conducting research on “agricultural supply chain management”—which integrates insights from the manufacturing sector into agriculture—at the University of Tokyo Graduate School. He took up bonsai during the COVID-19 pandemic but suffered the agonizing experience of letting a bonsai he had borrowed from his teacher die. Later, while traveling to meet bonsai enthusiasts and retailers in Europe, the United States, and Southeast Asia, he discovered that many enthusiasts had experienced similar tragedies.
To address this issue, he formed “JinShari,” a team dedicated to building a bonsai aftercare service using generative AI. He is currently working tirelessly to preserve and advance bonsai culture.
Main Achievements March 2023: Received the Dean’s Award (Master’s) from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
December 2025: Received the Grand Prize at the “Bonsai Business Contest” hosted by Saitama City
March 2025: Selected for the “Soil 100” program by the Soil Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
June 2026: Selected for the “TTCP: Tokyo Technology Commercialization Program” by Japan Research Institute, Ltd.
July 2026: Selected for the “ICT Startup League” by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
September 2026: Selected for the “academist Prize, 6th Cohort: Humanities and Social Sciences” by Academist, Inc.

JinShari Basic Informaton
BASIC
INFORMATION

Company Name JinShari
Representative Name Tomoki Katsumura
Address 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Official Site and Social Media, etc. @TomokiKatsumura | X (Twitter)
Official Website
Founding Date September 1, 2024

For more details on STARTUP LEAGUE's startup support,
please see here.